Police Chief William Clay has banned all on-duty police officers from eating at Denny's Restaurant on South Illinois Street after a detective was asked to remove her gun or leave the restaurant.

"All sworn (uniformed/non-uniformed) officers have been prohibited from entering Denny's Restaurant at 1130 South Illinois for any meal or coffee breaks while on duty," Clay said in a released statement. "Additionally, no officers may enter the restaurant off-duty if in uniform."

This Dennys is two blocks down the street from the police station. I’m sure that all the police officers and detectives and the brass knew full well what Dennys policy on open carry was — posted or not.

Ah, that’s right! As I recall, the CA State Patrol sent in a gun for service that he could not legally send back to them under CA law. So he kept it and sent them a letter explaining why. They sued and lost. Good on Barrett.

Yeah, I’m kind of torn on this one also. Very stupid on the part of the restaurant assistant manager, and I’m glad the police chief is sticking it to the local hoplophobe at Denny’s.

But on the other hand, Illinois law would have required that these officers arrest me if I were to be caught carrying my TN-legal concealed carry pistol in IL. So they already received better treatment than this law-abiding citizen would...

I actually think this is great and wish more people and restaurants would do this, especially in States where Citizens are prevented from owning or using firearms. Do these officers enforce tyrannical laws in direct defiance of what the Constitution says?? YES THEY DO. Then tell the Jack Booted Gang Bangers to go somewhere else.

Absolutely agree. Off duty cops should be treated no differently than any other citizen. Personally, I'm not really all that enthusiastic about on-duty cops getting special priviledges the rest of us don't have.

Maybe I will start eating at Dennys again.

Yeah, well, I wouldn't go that far. They are anti-gun after all.

58
posted on 01/03/2013 7:28:38 AM PST
by zeugma
(Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)

Police should never have to hide their weapons in uniform or out. Neither should any legal individual permit holder. citizen. Or legal resident alien, for that matter. The right to self defense is a fundamental human right, protected (not granted) absolutely by the Constitution.

61
posted on 01/03/2013 7:36:49 AM PST
by ArrogantBustard
(Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)

I might have went too far with the line about eating at Denny’s, But none of my other opinions have changed. We sure do seem to attract more Boot Lickers here than usual lately. Seems that once you confront them with HARD FACTS about their “Buddies” they crawl back under the rock from which they came.

I find threads like this to be useful in identifying those who react with a knee-jerk response, sometimes on both sides. I've found over the many years that I've been on FR that those who blindly support the government in its various forms has been steadily decreasing. Ten years ago, you'd have seen a much stronger response in support of the powers that be. I see it as a good sign. There will always be some who don't fully think through the implications.

Personally, as far as I'm concerned, in situations like this, where you have a victim disarmament zone, I don't think the police (on or off duty) should be armed any more than your average citizen unless they are acting directly in their official capacity.

67
posted on 01/03/2013 8:20:28 AM PST
by zeugma
(Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)

Personally, as far as I'm concerned, in situations like this, where you have a victim disarmament zone, I don't think the police (on or off duty) should be armed any more than your average citizen unless they are acting directly in their official capacity.

In addition, from a liability perspective, the entity that has declared the area a victim disarmament zone should have a strict liability for the protection of those within the VDZ. If a patron is harmed, and has had his ability to defend himself usurped, the entity should be held completely responsible for his safety.

This is especially true in those places where you have no choice to be, like airports, and government facilities. I recently had to enter a courthouse for jury duty and couldn't have so much as a swiss army knife on my person. So, I was compelled under force of law to be there, and also compelled that I disarm complately. This is immoral, especially as the state disclaims liability for my person.

70
posted on 01/03/2013 8:37:56 AM PST
by zeugma
(Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)

When I was a kid there was a busy restaurant that did not take checks or credit cards, only cash. The table nearest the cash register had a sign on it: “Reserved for on duty uniformed San Antonio Police Department Officers.”

I was in a Chinese restaurant once -typical buffet place. Huge place with dozens of tables. This one guy was leaving and tried to walk out without paying. They tried to stop him and he started screaming at them about the shrimp on the buffet being bad (they weren’t). They told him they would call the police, and he screamed “Call the f-ing police. I don’t care.”

Immediately, about 8 plainclothed police officers stood up. Within 3 minutes, a uniformed cop had arrived and the guy wass taken away in cuffs.

72
posted on 01/03/2013 9:24:27 AM PST
by RightFighter
(It was all for nothing.)

I've found over the many years that I've been on FR that those who blindly support the government in its various forms has been steadily decreasing. Ten years ago, you'd have seen a much stronger response in support of the powers that be. I see it as a good sign. There will always be some who don't fully think through the implications.

Good observations. 10 years ago we were still overcoming 9/11. We as a nation were activley engaged in Iraq, finding WMD, and - as a rule - we supported law and order.

Now? Now we see LEO's, the local, state and federal governments, Capital Hill, and even our military have seriously hurt and disappointed the conservative cause. In just 10 years. Naturally a lot of blame is laid at the feet of the Kenyan. But it is a sad thing to see teachers, cops, even soldiers and other once highly esteemed citizens slammed and denigrated here at FR.

Law and Order? (hoccc ptui) Libertarians rule this place.

73
posted on 01/03/2013 9:27:50 AM PST
by Responsibility2nd
(NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)

Of course a restaurant has the right (or should have) to ask a customer to leave if that customer makes other people feel uncomfortable. In this case an anti-gun person would ask the armed person to leave and a gun supporter would ask the anti-gun person to leave. Which would you ask to leave?

Of course a restaurant has the right (or should have) to ask a customer to leave if that customer makes other people feel uncomfortable. In this case an anti-gun person would ask the armed person to leave and a gun supporter would ask the anti-gun person to leave. Which would you ask to leave?

I would explain to the uncomfortable person that these were just police detectives having lunch, and if she didn't want to eat in my place as a result, i would understand.

Then I would then explain to the detectives that if they wanted to eat in my place they would need to keep their stuff concealed.

76
posted on 01/03/2013 10:52:30 AM PST
by PapaBear3625
(You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)

Now? Now we see LEO's, the local, state and federal governments, Capital Hill, and even our military have seriously hurt and disappointed the conservative cause. In just 10 years.

Absolutely agreed, though it goes back a lot further than that. It's just that now it's getting so obvious that it's hard to ignore.

But it is a sad thing to see teachers, cops, even soldiers and other once highly esteemed citizens slammed and denigrated here at FR.

Respect and support is earned, and can't just be taken for granted. Once lost, it is all the more harder to regain.

Law and Order? (hoccc ptui) Libertarians rule this place.

Some of us expect the rule of law to apply to everyone, not just the unwashed masses. The law actually has to make some sense as well. When the law becomes arbitrary and capricious, you'll find lots less respect for it. When an American citizen can be imprisioned for years because a piece of steel is one inch shorter than the government proclaims it should be, you have a serious problem. When the law is extended to the point where the government thinks it has the power to dictate how many ounces your soft drink should be, you have a serious problem. When the government confiscates half the income of a hardworking American, you have a serious problem. Some of us are sick and tired of the relentless advance of the police state. You'll find lots of order in a police state. You won't find much freedom there though.

77
posted on 01/03/2013 10:59:37 AM PST
by zeugma
(Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)

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